2022 Clearwater Steelhead

[Potsie]

Any reports from up north? I know the numbers coming over Bonneville were less than stellar, but has it picked up at all on The Clearwater?

I’m headed up on 1/29 for a day at Pink House.

 

[choc dogs]

No knowledge at all. I need to utilize my steelhead tags one year.

 

[Potsie]

No knowledge at all. I need to utilize my steelhead tags one year.

Well if my FIL backs out (coin flip) we’ll have an open spot on the boat…

 

[choc dogs]

I'd just mess up your trip, tangled in backlash n shtuff

 

[Irrelevant]

How are the runs doing? Ours are lower than low.

 

[Potsie]

Low. Like low low. They’ve cut the bag limit to one, but even with that we’ll be putting all catch back in the river. It not like a greasy chunk of steelhead is that great anyways. But it sure is fun as hell to do the fishing.

 

[Irrelevant]

Low. Like low low. They’ve cut the bag limit to one, but even with that we’ll be putting all catch back in the river. It not like a greasy chunk of steelhead is that great anyways. But it sure is fun as hell to do the fishing.

We haven't had a season in our neck of the woods since 2016 I think. Every is tanking, I just saw they're not going to open the Skagit at all. The OP rivers are about the only thing open and those are getting HAMMERED by C&R because they're the only thing open.

Post some pics of your catch, but try to #keepemwet. Someday I want to try the Clearwater.

 

[rtraverdavis]

We haven't had a season in our neck of the woods since 2016 I think. Every is tanking, I just saw they're not going to open the Skagit at all. The OP rivers are about the only thing open and those are getting HAMMERED by C&R because they're the only thing open.

Post some pics of your catch, but try to #keepemwet. Someday I want to try the Clearwater.

ODFW just extended the closures on the Columbia above the Dalles Dam and several tributaries--including the Deschutes--through the end of May. Frickin depressing, man.

 

[Irrelevant]

Frickin depressing, man.

yep.

I fear my days of steelhead fishing may already be over.

 

[BenInMT]

Might as well go get you some before they go extinct in the next couple years.

 

[Dougfirtree]

There's probably better steelhead fishing in NY right now, then in the NW. That's sad.

 

[Irrelevant]

There's probably better steelhead fishing in NY right now, then in the NW. That's sad.

I don't think that's even debatable at this point. The entire Great Lakes population is orders of magnitude better off.

 

[Irrelevant]

If anyone wants to geek out a little the Wild Steelhead Coalition periodically puts out some great science:

News — Wild Steelhead Coalition

www.wildsteelheadcoalition.org

Then there's also this little tidbit of bad news from the MF Salmon River.

Our Failure To Remember Affects Salmon And Steelhead Conservation - Trout Unlimited

The problem is, our short-term memory has real consequences for conservation as we continually reduce our expectations and drop the bar far too low.

www.tu.org

Canadian Science Publishing

Just think about that decline in the last generation or two?

 

[44hunter45]

I was there in the fall run and got skunked. I'd be up for a lesson!

 

[44hunter45]

If anyone wants to geek out a little the Wild Steelhead Coalition periodically puts out some great science:

News — Wild Steelhead Coalition

www.wildsteelheadcoalition.org

Then there's also this little tidbit of bad news from the MF Salmon River.

Our Failure To Remember Affects Salmon And Steelhead Conservation - Trout Unlimited

The problem is, our short-term memory has real consequences for conservation as we continually reduce our expectations and drop the bar far too low.

www.tu.org

Canadian Science Publishing

View attachment 208985

Just think about that decline in the last generation or two?

The book "Salmon and his People" mentions that a huge portion of the spawn was on the North Fork. That effectively died with Dworshak Dam. The hatchery is there at the base of the dam but its is a piss in a pot compared to the natural spawn.

If you go to Alaska and see streams CHOKED with fish, no one will ever again convince you that what we have in Columbia system is normal.

 

[Potsie]

I was there in the fall run and got skunked. I'd be up for a lesson!

We’re a full boat now, otherwise I’d say jump in. We’re going out with Reel Time on Clarkston, I’ve fished with them several times now, and always end up on fish. Been out with Jeff and Shane, would highly recommend either.